34: Can We Call You Ando? (Interview with Matthew Andonovski)

0:00Justin: Hey, Andrew.

0:00Andrew: Hey, Justin.

0:01Justin: Hey, Ando.

0:02Matthew Andonovski: Hey, Justin. Hey, Andrew.

0:03Andrew: Hey, Ando. It's the off season. That means we've been on hiatus until now. We are extremely excited to be back with a special guest episode of the AudPod. Welcome our inaugural guest, the man we affectionately call the Andalorian, our captain. My captain. Your captain, Matthew Andonovski Welcome to the AudPod, where we're Kitchener Rangers hockey with the AudBalls themselves, Andrew and Justin.

0:38Justin: Take it away, fellas.

0:41Matthew Andonovski: How you guys doing?

0:41Andrew: We're great. We can't believe you're here.

0:44Matthew Andonovski: Yeah, I know. I'm pretty fired up. Thanks for the invitation.

0:46Andrew: Thank you for being here.

0:47Justin: Okay. I didn't actually ask this. Are you okay if we call you Ando?

0:51Matthew Andonovski: Yeah. Yeah, for sure.

0:52Justin: Okay. Do you go by any other nicknames?

0:56Matthew Andonovski: I don't even go by my first name, to be honest. I go by Ando. Anywhere I go is Ando. My parents are the only ones that call me by name, but. Yeah, like there's no other nip games?

1:06Andrew: Is it shout out to your parents who follow theod pun?

1:10Justin: Yeah, we love the Aud is it Matt with the parents or is it like, Matthew?

1:14Matthew Andonovski: Well, it all depends. If I'm in trouble, the Aud full name, and then if it's just casual, it's normally Matt.

1:20Justin: As you can tell, we were really wanting to get into the nitty gritty here. We got a pretty tough question to start off with. We learned from Sean Favaro at an intermission video last season that most people on the team think that you have the worst taste in music. Why does everyone hate your music and what do you listen to?

1:38Matthew Andonovski: I'm a big country guy, but I get. I get the short end of the stick because I kind of leave my phone unlocked or give guys my password to play music in the room, and they play the music, and it's not really me playing the music half the time, so it could be someone else playing the music. And it's just my phone that's connected to the Aud I. I took the blame for it, but half. I'd say half. Three quarters of the time, it's everyone else taking my phone and playing their own music. So they just don't want to blame other guys. I just.

2:10Andrew: So you were framed? You were set up?

2:13Matthew Andonovski: You could say that, yeah.

2:15Andrew: Yeah.

2:15Justin: So.

2:16Andrew: So does that mess with your algorithm?

2:18Matthew Andonovski: No, it's not actually that bad because I only listen to country in the cars, and when I'm driving, I just play country. So it. It's not too bad.

2:25Andrew: So you listen to country, but you're from Toronto, so you're a city boy.

2:29Matthew Andonovski: Yeah, yeah.

2:30Andrew: All right. But country boy at heart.

2:32Matthew Andonovski: Yeah, I spent a lot of time in Parry Sound growing up with my grandparents living there. That's where my mom's from. So I do have a little bit of small town in me, but I do live in Markham in the city. But I do love being outdoors and love going to Parry Sound, up to the cottage and all that. So I love to be outside and kind of country ish.

2:51Andrew: A pretty good defenseman from Parry Sound up there, I think.

2:53Matthew Andonovski: Yeah. Mauled my game after him. And I wore number four for almost all the years growing up. I was a big Bobby Orr fan. Got a ton of memorabilia. I got assigned Bob your stick actually in my room.

3:06Andrew: Oh, wow.

3:07Justin: Sweet.

3:08Andrew: Yeah, that's pretty great. So how did you end up with five?

3:11Matthew Andonovski: I ended up with five because kind of want to switch things up, but there's five of us in the family. Everyone in my family, including me, took all five of them to get to where I am and playing the Ohl. So kind of just giving back to my family and showing support and thanking them for all the support that they've given me.

3:30Andrew: Man, I love that. What a beauty. Okay, so you mentioned in the summers you spent a lot of time in Parry Sound. What's like your average off season since you've been an.

3:40Matthew Andonovski: Oh, I work out every day, skate almost every day. I do a lot of track kind of work on conditioning and speed at the same time. And then in the afternoons after I'm done all that, I'm either on the golf course or fishing with my younger brother. So I'm doing one of those two things most of the time. Also been getting into tennis. I've been playing a lot of tennis lately. My dad's quite the tennis player, so I'm trying to practice and try and beat him in the upcoming weeks.

4:13Justin: I'm sure it's not, like your main motivation to play tennis, but I've heard it's really good for, like, coordination and using in other sports.

4:20Matthew Andonovski: Yeah. And it's such a good workout, especially when I'm playing. My dad doesn't move much and he can place the ball pretty well, so I find I'm doing suicides back and forth to chase the ball. So I got a pretty good agility workout and conditioning at the same time.

4:34Justin: I don't want to say this about your dad, but some of those older guys playing pickleball or stuff, they're just like it's like they're drinking a beer, not moving and the, the young guys on the other side are just like dead.

4:45Matthew Andonovski: Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's about the way it is.

4:48Justin: Nice.

4:48Andrew: That off season mindset, did anything change once you signed that entry level contract?

4:55Matthew Andonovski: Yeah, a few things changed. I switched gyms so I'm working out with Matt Nickel who's the head of strength and conditioning with the Aud Senders. So that was played a big role in being in the Aud organization. Has everyday hands on with me monitoring how I'm developing, how I'm doing, improving the gym, speed, conditioning and all the testing that I've been doing weekly. I've been luckily lucky to have that on a day to day basis and kind of have a Ottawa representative at my disposal on a daily basis to kind of pick his brain and help me make to that next level.

5:31Andrew: Awesome. Yeah, I mean it's the big leagues so that's awesome that they are bringing you along at that level and you were drafted obviously by them last year. What did that feel like? And did you have any indication that Ottawa like had you on the radar?

5:48Matthew Andonovski: Honestly, I had no clue. Ottawa, I actually have a funny story about that. I did one interview with them on Zoom and they asked me what animal I'd be and I was like, oh, I'd be a werewolf, but that's not an animal. Yeah, I was like, oh, I'm definitely not getting drafted by these guys now. Like I totally messed that one up. I like I should have just said wolf but I tried to be a little creative but the one scout called me out and actually said that's not an animal. So I for sure thought I screwed myself on that one. But no, it ended up working well and they actually liked it. So half human, half wolf. I guess they like that. So yeah, that. I definitely didn't think it was gonna be Ottawa but ended up ended up working. So. Yeah, I know, I'm happy.

6:39Andrew: I love that. Yeah. They were like, this guy's an outside the box thinker.

6:43Justin: Yeah. Now that you've been through the draft, you got some teammates on the Rangers that, that are going through that this summer. Was there any advice or anything like that you could impart on them?

6:54Matthew Andonovski: Yeah. Obviously there's a lot of pressure to perform in your draft year. Kind of just have fun with it. I told them to not kind of be all uptight. You're gonna, you play your game, you're gonna go out and play your game every night. So don't be uptight every night. We play 68 games and if you're uptight all 68 games, you're not gonna play well all 68 games. So just have fun. Obviously you work in the summer to have a good year, so just trust your training and good things will happen. And every guy that's draft eligible, I feel like has a really good shot of getting drafted this year. I'm excited.

7:29Justin: Yeah, I mean, we're excited too. We're just fans, but it's, it seems like you guys had such a good crew together this year that we just want the best for everybody and it's, it's awesome. And training camp last year, how did that go?

7:41Matthew Andonovski: Training camp went really well. Obviously really cool experience. Kind of getting to watch those really good players, NHLers that have been in the league for many years and just see how they work on a day to day basis, how they prepare, prepare their bodies and how they like really work in a up close environment and just see the gap that or what I need to work on to make it to that level and improve and little things that I can add to help myself make it to that level.

8:12Justin: Was there anybody that you connected with on the team?

8:15Matthew Andonovski: Yeah, I, Drew and Brady Tachock kind of sat down with all the young guys at the table and just kind of chatted with all the Soo that was, that was pretty sweet. Kind of a little bit starstruck when you first get there and you're like, oh, I watch these guys on TV every night. So you don't really want to bug them or ask the Soo many questions, but they're all super open to answering questions and kind of sat down the first day and said, if you have any questions, don't be afraid to come ask. We're here to help, just like all the staff. So it was pretty cool.

8:42Justin: Oh, that's awesome.

8:44Andrew: So you said that you spent time in Parry Sound, you're a big Bobby Orr guy. So I'm curious now, are you a Bruins fan growing up or being from Toronto? Were you a Toronto fan? And okay, before you answer that, did your family have mixed emotions about the Sens signing you or are they just excited that you're potentially like driving distance away?

9:04Matthew Andonovski: To answer the first question, I'm not a Boston fan, I'm a Leafs fan. Or I was a Leafs fan, I'm not a Leafs fan anymore.

9:11Justin: But is that in the contract?

9:14Matthew Andonovski: I didn't really read the contract. I'd have to ask my agent about that, but I'm just, I'm just not a Leafs fan anymore. I'd rather cheer for the team that I'm drafted for and hopefully play for that team one day but. And then my parents, my dad's a Leaf fan but they weren't too upset that I was signed by the Aud Senders. They're just happy that I'm at pretty close. They can drive and they don't have to fly to a every game.

9:40Andrew: Of course. So you've been in Kitchener. Have they been coming to all the games or do they watch some of the games on tv?

9:47Matthew Andonovski: Yeah, they. They come to almost every game. I got two younger brothers so they're full blown in hockey too. Almost every Friday night the Aud the Aud or at least one of the Aud one of my brothers is at the Aud watched me play. So I'm pretty lucky to have them supporting me. The whole playoff run they were at home and away they came and my Billets as well. So I'm super happy to have a big support team around me and help me and cheer me on.

10:13Andrew: Speaking of which, your brother was at camp with the Rangers recently?

10:18Matthew Andonovski: Yeah, yeah, he. He had invite to rookie camp or development camp and yeah, he did. He did really well. So I'm. I'm happy. So we'll see what happens the next Andalorian.

10:31Justin: Tell us about what it's like to be a kid in a billet family. You said they were following you around as well and how's that?

10:39Matthew Andonovski: Yeah, no, my. My billets are awesome. They do everything for me. I couldn't ask for a better billet family. I moved into my billet house at 16 with a pretty shy kid in my billet house and stayed to my. Kind of stayed to my own a little bit. But into my second year I kind of opened up and I. I've been with them for four years now and they're pretty much second parents to me. They're just an extension of my family right now. So I love the Aud I couldn't have asked for a better billet family.

11:09Justin: That's amazing. I mean, I'm sure that makes it so much easier.

11:12Matthew Andonovski: Oh yeah, it. I found it helped with my play. I'm not distracted with having to deal with my billet family. If there's issues or anything. I got no distractions. I'm just going out and playing and that helps a ton. You hear stories of billet families that could be a disaster, but I don't think there hasn't been one in Kitchener that I've heard of in my four years. So we're really lucky with the billet situation we have in Kitchener. And all the boys are super happy with all their billets.

11:41Andrew: And that's so great to hear. Speaking of the boys, who. All right. Besides yourself, is the funniest guy on the team.

11:49Matthew Andonovski: Oh, that's a tough one. Cameron Arquette pretty funny.

11:53Andrew: Yeah, we heard that.

11:54Matthew Andonovski: There's a few. Carson Campbell, I sat next to him. Him and Camarita, I sat next to him. Those two can get a laugh on me pretty easily. And just the kind of the chirping around the room like, everyone's kind of pretty funny. You get one guy going and he's. There's some guys that you just get going and they're. They're really funny. Reed's one of them. You get him going and he will not stop. So he loves his TikTok memes too. So I probably have 20 TikTok memes in my TikTok inbox from him. But yeah, I know his. He sends really funny memes. That counts too.

12:27Andrew: So you're spending a lot of time with these guys, obviously. Is there any, like, great travel stories, especially from this past year with all that crazy weather?

12:35Matthew Andonovski: I sit at the back of the bus and I face the opposite way at the card table. There's some pretty skeeted card games. We play a lot of euchre on the bus. I spend most of my time playing euchre and not really looking at the weather. I find if I distract myself from the weather, the Aud not a factor in the trip. But all of our bus trips are pretty funny. We win. We do karaoke on the speakers in the bus. Pretty. That's a pretty fun one.

13:01Andrew: What's your go to song?

13:02Matthew Andonovski: I like Wrecking Ball. That's a good one.

13:05Andrew: Unreal. Wow. I would have never guessed.

13:09Matthew Andonovski: I like Nickelback too. I can do like a bunch of Nickelback songs as well.

13:14Andrew: We're both Alberta boys, so Nickelback, we're. We gotta support them by default.

13:20Justin: Yeah. As soon as you leave the province. That's what they tell you. Yeah, it's on your passport. All right, so it's been great getting to know you, but now we got to talk some rangers. I know it's off season, but we had a pretty magical. I Sam O'Reilly in the collective we that we had a pretty magical playoff run this year. How was that for you guys? How was that for you?

13:40Matthew Andonovski: It's tough to put into words, that playoff run, obviously. Flint. We beat them in five games. That was a really tough series. Really physical series. That Was really fun to play in. Obviously just the first period of the game one. Everyone's just running around and then, yeah, I get to the fight with their captain. I actually knew him a little bit from Ottawa camp. He went to Ottawa camp before he was drafted to Edmonton. So I kind of knew him and knew what he was about. So I kind of had a feeling he would drop the gloves with me. So I asked him in warmups and he kind of agreed. I said, let's get both teams fired up, get the fans into it, start the series off with a bang. So, yeah, that was pretty cool to be able to get the Aud super loud. It was probably the loudest I've ever heard.

14:27Andrew: the Aud I was there and it was absolutely thermo nuclear. Yeah. And not only that, you guys were all running around like wild, crazy men. And it was just total maniacs out there, like on both sides. But it was unbelievable physical hockey that. And there was no way that like both teams. I mean, it was a physical series, but it had to ease a little bit. That was probably the most physical hockey I. I've ever seen to a degree in that first 10 minutes.

14:53Matthew Andonovski: Yeah. And the message going into the room, go to the second period was just take a breath, let's start playing hockey. Because if this happens for four to seven games, Both teams are going to be lying on the ice dead. So it's not sustainable. And next thing you know, the second period was a lot more fast and more hockey like than football or rugby match. That was a really cool series to be a part of. And obviously was really tough physically. So going to Windsor a little bit banged up. We came in, tried to play the Sam O'Reilly as we did in Flint and didn't really work out. Did some adjustments and kind of flipped the switch. Flipped a switch mentally. I think after that third game, we all kind of realized that this could be their last time playing with our three overagers and other graduating players that aren't coming back. And we all said, we're not done yet. We love this group so so much that we want to stay together. So we kind of just took it one game at a time. And next thing you know, we're tied three, three going into game seven in Windsor. So that was. That was pretty cool. And I think going into game seven, we had all the momentum and we had nothing to lose. We could have been out two weeks ago being swept, but we came into game seven and played it was that. I think that game was the best hockey game, hockey wise. I've been a part of both teams were just solid. I, I love how that was. That was official. There was no penalties. It was just let the boys play. And I think that's how a Game 7 should be. When you look at it, you kind of just let each, let both teams play and whoever scores more wins the hockey game. There's no just other deciding factors that can play into the game. So I think that was a really good game. And Ellenis is an absolute beast. He doesn't get enough, enough credit. He put the team on the back the last four games to help us pull off that reverse Soupy Oh man,

16:50Andrew: for sure, we're huge. Well, I'll tell you, he gets enough credit on the oddball.

16:54Matthew Andonovski: Yeah, I've heard the credit he's got.

16:56Andrew: We are singing his praises, man.

16:58Matthew Andonovski: And then London, obviously that team is I think that one of the best junior hockey teams built just the way they're built, depth wise physicality and all that. So a tough team. I think that helped us a lot in our experience with our younger guys that still have a year or two left going into next year, I think that helps us a lot to kind of experience this is what a winning team is, how it's built. And I think we have a lot of the same pieces coming up that can fill roles how London's kind of built. So I think we're all really excited to see what happens in the next few years and how this team really shapes up when the core is a year older.

17:36Justin: You're a leader in the room, you're the captain. How do you help these young guys with less playoff experience going into these tough series?

17:45Matthew Andonovski: Well, going into Flint we had like a little team meeting and me swicky Merce Parse, we all sat down and kind of brainstormed a few things and we knew Flint was going to come out super hard and physical. So we kind of just prepared the Aud said like we know they're going to come out hard. Let's come out twice as hard and kind of intimidate the Aud let's play a really hard first five, ten minutes. Everyone gets a bump, everyone puts a lot of pressure on the Aud kind of scare them off a little bit. And they came right back at us. So that was really cool to see like two teams just going head to head pretty much and trying to see who can intimidate each other for 10 minutes and just kill each other run around the ice. But I think that was a big eye opener and heads up that we gave them to prepare the Aud say it's not going to be easy. After the first game, we're all feeling it because we've all been hit a thousand times. So it was kind of good to have that as our first game. And it showed what playoff hockey is really going to be like.

18:45Justin: I mean, that's so interesting.

18:47Andrew: With that said, I'm curious, with those younger guys, was there a message about when you guys were down three games to nothing, Was there. Was there a message maybe even after that first win back?

18:58Matthew Andonovski: The main message we gave was we just can't give up. We believe in this room. We got a lot of guys that can do a lot of stuff, really special stuff. We believed in their coaching. They brought us an idea of what could help us win, and we all kind of bought into that. We had Mercer's line, line matching units, that protist green tree, and I forget who the third guy is, but they were line matched in game three in the third period. They started and the whole team kind of bought into that. I don't think they got enough credit after that series on how well they did the last four games of shutting down that line and giving them nothing. And I think that was a really key part in winning that series, was that line got nothing and the rest of the team had a little bit of more air to breathe without having to worry about those three superstars buzzing around the ice, creating opportunities for themselves. So that gave everyone a little bit more confidence, allowing them to play their game and not necessarily change their game to shut those guys down. So it gave our top guys a little bit more space to move around and play an offensive style like they like to.

20:11Andrew: Unreal. Well, you scored your first game winner this past season in overtime versus Kingston. Luke Ellinas another Ottawa draft pick, he's set you up, had a beautiful play to get in there deep, and then he just dished it to you. And you sniped one from pretty far out, too, actually. Was that one of your favorite moments as an Ohler? And how exciting is it to know that you and Luke are part of the same organization?

20:35Matthew Andonovski: Yeah, no, that was a pretty special moment. Other than my first career goal three years later than I probably should have got it. Yeah, no, it was. It was pretty cool just to be able to have the whole team come out and jump on you. I. I was always the guy to go out and jump on, the guy that scored the Aud winner. But being that guy and kind of having all the guys around you kind of brings a little bit more confidence and kind of Feels like you got the whole team rallying behind you to celebrate with you. So it was definitely a really cool and really special moment and I always wanted to do the heartbreaker, but I never had the opportunity. Opportunity to. So that was pretty cool to be able to do that and actually, like, make sure it was a heartbreaker and not just a late third period goal. And man, maybe they come back. So, yeah, it was pretty cool. And then Ellie, it's super nice having a guy that I've spent three years with now and have a familiar face around Ottawa, have someone to talk to if I got no one to talk to and kind of just share our pro careers in the same kind of start. So someone to bounce ideas off and talk about. So it's. It's really cool to have him kind of alongside.

21:40Justin: Thanks for all the support throughout the season. We knew you were there.

21:42Andrew: It meant a lot to us. You were one of our first followers and kind of shocked us a little bit because we're just, as we say all the time, two idiots in a room talking about hobby and just to kind of have the team somewhat embrace us. It meant a lot to us because two guys with jobs and we. We just wanted to do something fun together, you know, following the Rangers.

22:05Matthew Andonovski: Yeah, no, I. I appreciate it. Yeah, I love. I love the content, so I love watching it. When the podcast come out, I always take a listen. Both my parents listen and so does my billet mom, so they'll probably be pretty excited when the Soo this episode come out.

22:18Justin: Oh, that. That's awesome, man. Thank you so much for joining us. You're. You're our inaugural guest. Kicking us off strong here.

22:26Matthew Andonovski: No, thanks for having me. I appreciate it. It's an honor to be the inaugural guest on. On this podcast.

22:31Justin: Well, Andrew, that was. I mean, that was really exciting.

22:35Andrew: That was a highlight, right?

22:36Justin: Oh, yeah, highlight.

22:37Andrew: Milestone for the AudPod. You got to talk to the Andalorian himself, to Matthew Andonovski Thank goodness we

22:44Justin: did not see him in person because I believe that I'm due like a headlock and that didn't come up and you didn't have a chance to bring it up, so.

22:53Andrew: No, I didn't. I wouldn't dare.

22:55Justin: Cool.

22:56Andrew: I was super impressed with that young man. That was unbelievable interview. The Rangers seem to have absolutely zero doubt about him being captain and so

23:05Justin: do I. Yeah, I get why the team falls in line with him. He's a real person and that's. You don't see that a lot from always. From hockey players like Even. Even in an interview, you won't always see that from a hockey player. So I just love that he gives real answers.

23:17Matthew Andonovski: Yes.

23:18Andrew: Not a single stock hockey answer, as you said. Yeah. Unbelievable. I think my favorite part of that interview, and it was honestly just kind of a throwaway question, was asking him about his number, why he wears five. Because he's such a Bobby Orr fan. Number four. I mean, just how, like, think about that, right? Family first is there's five of us in my family. I was like, oh, man.

23:36Justin: All right, cool.

23:37Andrew: I'll run through a wall for you, buddy.

23:39Justin: Yeah, totally. Yeah.

23:41Andrew: Yeah. Born leader for sure.

23:43Justin: Yeah. 100%. He's a. He's a great leader. I can't wait to see where his career takes him because he's going to be a guy I'm going to follow regardless of where he goes.

23:53Andrew: I can't wait to have him back.

23:54Justin: Yeah.

23:55Andrew: Yes. We've done one interview on the AudPod and I'm like, when can we ask Ando?

24:00Justin: When can we ask him? Do we have to wait till the end of next season?

24:05Andrew: There's always a home here on the Aud bod for the Andalorian.

24:08Justin: Yeah. Welcome anytime. Also, Ando's parents, Pam, Ando's parents. Get at us.

24:13Andrew: We know you listen now. We know you listening.

24:17Justin: Thank. Thank you, of course, to Ken Born director of branding and marketing. Thank you to the product co producer, Liam, the phenom. And as always, you can find us on the social medias at Theodd podcast

24:31Andrew: on TikTok and Instagram. You can also find us on YouTube at the AudPod. Kitchener Rangers. Just search us in the search bar. We'll come up.

24:40Justin: As we mentioned earlier, we're on summer hiatus, so these interviews. We have another one that is coming up here soon. But like we said, we're not doing weekly releases, so a couple. Couple more throughout the summer before we get back into it in September. But other than that. Yeah, thanks. Thanks for listening. And as always, you can find us

24:58Andrew: at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.

25:02Justin: See you at the Aud